Furnace structure



Aug. 17, 1954 H. A. PAINE FURNACE STRUCTURE 7 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. 26

' INVENTOR. Howard A.Puine. Mom/5 Aug. 17, 1954 H. A. PAINE 2,686,326

FURNACE STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 26, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR. I Howard A. Paine.

LMJ

Aug. 17, 1954' H. A. PAINE 2,686,826

FURNACE STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 26, 1952 7 SheeiS-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. Howard A. Paine.

1954 H. A. PAINE 2,686,826

FURNACE STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 26, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

Howo rd A.Poine.

Aug. 17, 1954 H. A. PAINE 2,636,825

FURNACE STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 26, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 "i .9 IL

N O 8 9 5 n02 Q w CD 0 N a i r i I l a: Q

INVENTOR.

Howard A.Puine.

A TTORNE Y Aug. 17, 1954 H. A. PAINE FURNACE STRUCTURE- 7 Sheets-Sheet-S Filed Dec. 26, 1952 m SI 00 EA V N NM /R 1 0 W T o m H m m l 8 O I Y Aug. 17, 1954 H. A. PAINE 2,686,826

FURNACE STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 26, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR. 260 Howu rd A.Puine.

Fig.5.

Patented Aug. 17, 1954 2,686,826

UNITED STATES i ATENT OFFICE 2,686,826 FURNACE STRUCTURE Howard A. Paine, Las Vegas, Nev., assignor to Allegheny Ludlum Steel Corporation, Brackenridge, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application December 26, 1952, Serial No. 328,023 6 Claims. (Cl. l3 1i) This invention relates to furnaces and in parprovision of a tiltable furnace structure having ticular to furnace structure for use in conjuncsupporting and guiding means disposed to facilition with the melting of consumable electrodes tate the loading of a consumable electrode thei Recent developments in the titanium base in and for cooperating with a drive and roller alloy field have made possible the production of means for guiding the electrode as the electrode commerciall desirable titanium base alloys. is melted.

However, the melting facilities for commercially Other objects of this invention will become alloys of commercial quality. A recent advance 1() drawings in which:

in such production practices has been to melt Figure l is a view in elevation of a furnace consumable electrodes of sponge titanium or structure embodying the features of this invenscrap titanium metal and/or alloy to form ingots tion;

of the metal. Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of the structure of It has been difhcult heretofore to produce large Fig. 1 illustrating the structure as tilted; ingots of titanium base metal where consumable Fig o is a view partly in elevation and partly electrodes are employed because the furnace in se t n a d g at y enlarged Of a portion f facilities available have been inadequate to th t u tu e f 1 as taken along the line handle large electrodes weighing in the order of II- t f;

several hundred pounds. Where attempts have Fig. 4 is an elevational View partly in ect on other hand, where attempts have been made to 5 is a w w Darts broken w y d use large electrodes, the weight of the electrode p rt y n Section and greatly enlarged illustrating is so great that difiiculty has been encountered .ie adjustable drive mechanism of the furnace in loading the electrode into the furnace, the Structure; electrode often breaking under its own weight 6 is a View in Section taken along the ine when held in a horizontal position. Further, it VI-VI of F 5 illustrating the mounting f he has been difficult to guide the electrodes during adjustable dl'iVe roll;

the melting thereof to minimize undesirable arc- Fig. 7 is a p e d V w with Cover removed ing between the electrode and the walls of the of the vertical housing of the furnace structure; crucible in which the ingot; is formed, Fig. 8 is a view in section of the vertical hous- An object of this invention is to provide a s taken along the line VIIIVIII of furnace structure for facilitating the loading and Fig. 9 is a fragment y V w in t on and melting of large consumable electrodes, greatly enlarged of the roller track Within the Another object of this invention is to provide o sin taken along the line IXIX f e a furnace structure having a portion thereof tilt- 10 is a p plan V Of an insulating W ter able for facilitating the loading of huge conjacket forminga part of the furnace structure of sumable electrodes therein. Fig.

A further object of the invention is to provide 11 is a View in Section the Water J t a furnace structure having a portion thereof taken along the line XI-XI of Fi 0; tiltable in a predetermined manner and in which Fig. 12 is a bottom plan View Of the Water j et means are disposed to support and guide a large taken eieng the line XII-XII f and furnace of the mounting for the rolls of the water jacket A more specific object of this invention is the as tak n lon h ine XIII XII1 f Fi 12. provision in a tiltable furnace structure of a Referring to the drawing and n particular roller track and guide means for facilitating the Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, this invention is illustrated is connected as by means of bolts l8, the water jacket 53 in turn being disposed to seat on the rim 2% of a copper crucible 22 contained within a water jacket 24. As illustrated in Fig. 1 the crucible 22 and the enclosing water jacket 24. therefor are disposed in a pit or in any event disposed with the rim members thereof on the level of a foundation member 26. The furnace structure it is disposed to support, guide and feed a consumable electrode 28 into the crucible 22 where it is melted by passing current therethrough to effect arcing between the end of the electrode 28 and an initial deposit 3t of titanium base metal whereby the melting of the electrode 28 will form an ingot in the crucible 22.

The structure of the water jacket 24 which is provided with an inlet 32 and an outlet 34 and the structure of the crucible 22 are well-known and need not be described in detail, it being apparent that both the water jacket 25 and the crucible 22 are formed with rim members 36 and 26, respectively, whereby when a gasket 38 is disposed between the rims 2i) and 36 an effective seal will be maintained therebetween. The rim 2c of the crucible 22 is provided with a terminal lug Ml disposed to be connected to the positive terminal of a direct current source of supply (not shown) by a cable 42.

In order to strengthen the vertical housing 12 so that it may support the weight of the electrode 28 under certain operating conditions, a plurality of outwardly extending and spaced rib members 14 are disposed lengthwise of the housing If on one side thereof to connect the housing i2 with the top plate it of the lower portion Hi which carries the housing 12. The lower rectangular portion it is also reinforced as illustrated in Figs. 1 through i by a plurality of spaced ribs 58 disposed between the base plate 56 and the outer periphery wall of the lower portion Hi.

As more clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 through 4 the lower portion Hi comprises a rectangular housing formed of the top plate member 616 and a base plate member 553 and having side walls 52 and 54 and end walls 55 and 58. The base plate b is of a size to extend beyond the end and side walls a slight distance for receiving a strip member be about its outer edge upon which the end walls and side walls seat and which forms a base for receiving the reinforcing rib 38 which are spaced about the outer periphery of the end and side walls. The upper plate 46 and the base plate 5i) have aligned openingstherein for receiving or permitting the passage of the electrode 23 therethrough in a manner to be referred to hereinafter.

In order to support the furnace structure it in an operative relation with respect to the crucible 22, provision is made for supporting the weight of the furnace structure at two of the outer edges of the rectangular lower portion i4. Thus as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and i, a pedestal 62 provided with a foot 641 extends along the one edge of the base plate 563, the upper edge of the pedestal 82 being secured as by welding to the base plate 58. The opposite edge of the lower portion i l is disposed to be supported through a pivotal mounting on the foundation 26. Thus as more clearly illustrated in Fig. 4, a pair of pedestals B6 and B8 are disposed in spaced relation on the foundation 26, each of the pedestals t6 and 53 carrying a bearing housing In and '52, respectively, containing bearings (not shown) for receiving the ends of a shaft it about which the housing It is disposed to be rotated. The base plate 50 is also provided with a pair of bearing housings l6 and 18 secured to its lower outer edge in spaced relation and being provided with bearings (not shown) for cooperating with the shaft "M to perrnit tilting of the furnace structure it. The bearing housings l6 and "i8 can be secured to the lower base plate 5b in any suitable manner, for example by the bolts as illustrated. Likewise, the bearing housings iii and '52 may also be suitably bolted to the pedestals B6 and 68, respectively, so as to maintain the shaft it in an operative relation with respect to the housing Hi.

In order to support the housing 12 in a horizontal position when the housing it is tilted or rotating about the shaft Hi to the horizontal position as illustrated in Fig. 2 an outwardly extending rib 82 is disposed on the one side of the housing 12 in alignment with one of the reinforced ribs M, the rib 32 being reinforced by ribs 8%, extending at right angles thereto and partially extending about the periphery of the housing l2, the ribs 82 and St being suitably welded together and to the housing i2. The ribs 82 and 8t preferably extend outwardly from the housing 52 and terminate in a foot GB disposed to seat on the foundation 26, the length of the rib 82 being sufficient to maintain the housing i2 in a horizontal position when the foot 85 is seated against the foundation 26. Where desired a ring 88 may be provided, being secured to the rim ti] on the upper end of the housing l2 to which a lift hook (not shown) can be attached for facilitating movement of the furnace structure It about the pivot shaft 2d.

The housing 12 comprises a tubular member having the rim 99 disposed about its upper end for receiving the rim 92 of a cover member 94, the rims being secured together as by means of bolts 96. Preferably each of the rims 9i] and 92 are recesssed as at 98 (Figs. '7 and 8) for receiving a gasket material (not shown) to thereby render the joint between the cover and the upper end of the housing leak-proof. The cover 94 may be provided with a gas inlet Hill for admitting gas to the furnace structure as will be referred to more fully hereinafter.

The tubular housing I2 is provided with a roller track M32 as more clearly shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, the roller track 902 extending along the one side of the housing !2 that is reinforced by the rib 82 and the ribs Mp The roller track W2 is formed of a plurality of rollers I65 disposed in spaced relation to one another and carried in spaced channel members W6 and H38 which are secured to the inner wall of the housing ii. The rollers tilt have the outer ends of their shafts i it disposed to ride in the channels hit and i923, the spacing between the rolls um being maintained by blocks H2 disposed in the channels mt and 1% between corresponding ends of the shafts l H). The rolls i0 3 are preferably formed of steel to withstand wear thereon as the electrode passes thereover as will be referred to hereinafter. Preferably the roller track Hi2 extends substantially throughout the length of the housing l2 terminating closely adjacent the lower portion M of the furnace structure.

In order to provide guiding means, the purpose of which will be more clearly explained hereinafter, a plurality of angle members H4, H6 and H8 are disposed in spaced relation about the inner periphery of housing 52 being welded in assembled position. The guide members i It, I I6 and H8 are preferably spaced apart with the guide members H4 and Hi) opposite one another and about 90 from the center of the roller track I02. The size of the guide members H4, H6 and III! will depend somewhat upon the size of the electrode 23 which is to be employed in the furnace structure, in all cases the spacing between the guide members I I4, I I6 and I I8 and the roller track I02 being suilicient to accommodate the electrode '23 therebetween.

The lower portion I4 is disposed to contain a drive mechanism for supporting and feeding the electrode 28 into the crucible 22 when the furnace structure I is in the vertical position illustrated in Fig. 1. As illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 the drive comprises a pair of rollers I26 and II 22 preferably provided with an outer coating I24 of rubber or other suitable material having a high coefiicient of friction for frictionally engaging the electrode 28 to maintain the weight thereof between the rolls and when actuated to feed the electrode 28 into the crucible 22. In the embodiment illustrated, the roller I comprises a pressure roller whereas the roller I22 comprises the positive drive for the electrode. In order to support the roller members, side plates I26 and I28 are disposed in spaced relation to seat on the base plate 50 being secured thereto in any well-known manner and extending upwardly toward the top plate member 46 of the lower housing I4. The side plate member I26 has a section removed therefrom to leave a window or opening I36 therein for receiving an adjustable mounting for the pressure roller I20.

As more clearly illustrated in pressure roll I20 is disposed to be carried by a shaft I32 the end of which is mounted in a bearing housing I34 which is secured in an adjustable plate I36. In Fig. 6, the adjustable plate I36 is provided with a retaining ring I38 for retaining the bearing housing I34 in position therein, the adjustable plate being disposed for slidable movement with respect to an upper block member I40 which is welded to the upper edge of the window I30 and on a take-up wear member I 42 carried by the lower edge of the window I30. The take-up wear member I42 is formed of two components I44 and I46 which are correspondingly bevelled and are provided with a tongue and groove fit on their cooperating bevelled surfaces. The lower portion I44 of the take-up portion is slotted as at I48 and I50 for permitting slidable movement relative thereto of the upper portion I46, setscrews I52 and IE4 being disposed to extend through the slots I48 and I50, respectively, into the upper portion I46 so that when tightened to seat against the lower edge of the lower portion I44, the upper portion I46 will be held in a fixed position relative to the lower portion I44, the latter being preferably welded in position to the lower edge of the window I30. A setscrew I55 is disposed to be actuated to control movement of the upper portion I46 relative to the lower portion I44 of the wear take-up member I42, In order to provide for a tight sliding fit of the adjustable plate I36 a gib I56 is disposed between an edge of the slidable plate member I36 and the block member I40, a gib I56 also being disposed between the plate member I35 and the upper portion I46 of the wear take-up member I42. The gibs I 56 and I56 are secured in position by means of setscrews I60 which extend through the plate member I36 into the gibs.

Provision is made for manually adjusting the position of the pressure roller I20. Thus a thrust plate or pad I62 is disposed to seat against an edge of the slidable plate I36, the thrust plate or pad being connected as by means of a threaded arm I 64 to a sprocket I66 carried at the outer end Figs. 5 and 6, the

- shown).

of the arm I 64, the sprocket I66 being pinned as at I or otherwise of the arm I64 which terminates in a square end I61 disposed to receive a socket wrench (not As illustrated the end of the side plate I 28 is provided with a pressure plate I 68 through which the arm IE4 is disposed to extend, the pressure plate I68 being secured in the side plate I28. A helical spring I70 is disposed to seat against and between the pressure plate I 66 and the thrust plate or pad I62 to apply a biasing pressure against the thrust plate I62 to maitain the sliding plate in a position where the pressure roll I26 will be carried in pressure frictional engagement with the electrode 28. As illustrated the thrust plate or pad I62 is provided with a threaded recess 2'52 for receiving the threaded end or" the arm I6 whereby a turning movement of the square end I67 will effect movement of the thrust plate I62 and consequently movement of the slide plate I38 and pressure roller i26 carried thereby to maintain the pressure roll I20 in frictional engagement with the electrode 28. The sprocket I66 is preferably disposed on the arm 64 to seat against a thrust bearing assembly formed of the thrust bearing I disposed between thrust collars ITi'. Such a mounting of the sprocket I66 allows some movement or" the pressure roll I26 under the influence of the spring I 76 to maintain the pressure roller I26 in a tight frictional engagement with a surface of the electrode 23 regardless of irregularities or non-uniformities of the surface so engaged. In order to manually turn the end I6? of the arm I 64, a plug H4 is provided in the end wall of the lower portion I4, the plug I "M; being threaded in a housing Illa which extends through the end wall 56. Thus by removing the threaded plug I I4 from the housing 316 access may be had to fit a socket wrench (not shown) to the end 567 to efiect a manual operation of the sprocket I66 and the arm I64 to slidably adjust the position of the pressure roll I20.

The other end of the shaft I32 is similarly v mounted a bearing housing which is adj ustably mounted in a manner identical to that of the bearing housing I64 and disposed to be adjusted by movement of a sprocket I69 carried on the end of the arm ill. The sprockets I36 and I60 are connected as by means of a chain drive I'IS so that a manual adjustment of the end I6"! of arm I64 will eiiect a simultaneous movement of sprockets E66 and IE9 to position the roller I20.

The drive roll I22 is carried by a drive shaft I18, the ends of which extend through bearing housings 480 and I82 carried by the side plates I28 and I26, respectively, the bearing housings having bearings (not shown) for obtaining an efiicient transmittal of force to the drive roll I22. The one end of the shaft I28 extends through the bearing housing I66 and carries a cone worm gear I84 at its outer end thereof, the cone worm gear I84 being disposed to be driven by a pinion i 86 which is carried on a shaft disposed to rotate in babbitted bearing pillow blocks I 88 and I 6'6 when actuated. The drive roll I22 is also preferably provided with an outer cover of rubber or other material of high coefficient of friction to effect a good frictional engagement with a surface of the electrode 28.

In order to drive the drive roll I22 a driving motor I92 is supported externally of the housing 52 on a suitable platform carried by the top plate member 46, the motor 462 being connected through a right angle gear reducer I64, a flexible drive I06 and a flush type seal I98 contained in the top plate 46 of the lower portion l 4 of the furnace structure, the shaft I88 extending through the shaft seal. The shaft seal I98 may be maintained in position by any suitable means as for example the clamp 202.

In order to provide a good electrical contact with the electrode 23 a pair of contact shoes 202 and 22 are disposed in the space between the pressure roll H23 and the drive roll I22 to be biased into engagement with opposite surfaces of the electrode 28. Each of the contact members 2il2 and 2% are of similar structure being provided with a relatively fiat shoe or contact surface 2% and 268, respectively, such shoe bein formed of conducting material and being pivotally carried on arms m and 2|2, respectively, which are pivotally mounted on support members 2 Hi and 2 Hi, respectively, carried by the top plate member it, the arms 2ft and 212 being biased as by springs 2m and 22B, respectively, to force the shoes 2&6 and respectively, into engagement with the electrode 28. Each of the shoes 2% and 20-3 are preferably connected as by cables 222 and 222, respectively, to a terminal block 225 which extends through the top plate member 26 and is provided with a terminal 228 disposed to be connected to a terminal of negative polarity of a direct current source of power (not shown). Since the contact members 232 and 284 have relatively long contacting surfaces 2% and 2823, respectively, a good sliding contact will always be maintained between the contact members 282 and 2st and the electrode 28 as the electrode passes therebetween to thereby maintain a good electrical connection with the electrode.

The insulating water jacket it carried by the lower portion H5 is better illustrated in Figs. 10, 11 and 12. As illustrated therein, the water jacket 66 comprises two spaced rectangular side wall members 235] and 232 disposed between an upper rim member 232 and a lower rim member 23%. The inner rectangular side wall 2% cooperates with openings in the rim members 23 1 and 236 for defining a passage 233 of a size suitable for accommodating the electrode 28 as it is fed by the drive mechanism into the crucible 22. As illustrated, the water jacket 16 is provided with an inlet ll-it and an outlet 232 for supplying a continuous flow of cooling water (not shown) to the water jacket it to provide for adequately cooling the jacket is and preventing a substantial transfer of heat therethrough from the crucible 22 to the lower portion M of the furnace structure it containing the driving mechanism. A gas exhaust conduit its is provided in communication with the passageway 23%? in the water jacket H3.

In order to prevent damage to the water jacket it and to cooperate in guiding the electrode 28 as it is fed to the crucible 22., a plurality of rolls 2%, 228, 25s and 252 are disposed about the periphery of the passageway 238 in such a position that the surface of the rolls will extend within the passageway 23%! defined by the side walls 2%. The rolls 2% through 252 are preferably formed of steel and are provided with bearings 252 at their outer ends, the bearings being preferably of heat-resisting fibrous material impregnated with a synthetic resin. As better illustrated in Figs. 11 through 13 the lower edges of the inner walls 230 are stepped as at 256 for receiving supporting blocks 258 which are recessed as at 28% for receiving the bearing ends 254 of the rolls. The supporting blocks 258 are held in position in the stepped side walls 230 as by means of bolts 262 rim member 236. Thus each of the rolls 246 through 252 is disposed to be engaged by one of the surfaces of a substantially rectangular electrode 28 as it passes through the water jacket 16 to the crucible 22.

In practice in order to load the electrode 2% into the furnace structure it the furnace structure is tilted about its pivot shaft 24 by lifting ring 88 in any suitable manner as by a lifting crane or otherwise to tilt the furnace structure from the vertical position illustrated in Fig. l to a horizontal position as illustrated in Fig. 2 with the foot 86 of the supporting rib 82 seated against the foundation 2B. The cover 92 is then removed from the end of the housing i2 and an electrode 28 of titanium base metal is raised to a horizontal position where housing ill, the electrode resting upon the rolls ltd of the roller track ")2. guide members H4, H6 and H3 are bevelled as illustrated in Fig. 8 they aid in guiding the electrode into a central position within the housing i2, the inwardly extending edges of the guide H4, I I6 and i 38 functioning to maintain the electrode in such central position as it is moved along the roller track in. The roller track H32 functions to support the weight of the electrode 28 as it is in the horizontal position thereof as the electrode 28 furnace structure.

Prior to admitting the electrode 28 into the furnace structure it will be understood that the position of the pressure roll 22 is adjusted so that the pressure roll 420 will cooperate with the guide roll 122 to receive the end of the electrode 28 in a supporting frictional engagement. Such adjustment of the position of the pressure roll 129 can be effected either by adjusting the wear take-up blocks M2 and M8 or by removing the plug W4 from the end wall 56 to manually adjust the sprocket ifit to effect an adjustment of the thrust pad i62 relative to the supporting plate 536. Adjustment of the wear take-up blocks 44 and ME prior to a melting operation can be readily effected by loosening the setscrews 152 and H55 and thereafter turning the setscrew H555 to effect a relative movement of the upper block M6 with respect to the lower block M2.

is loaded into the Assuming that the pressure roll 22d has been adjusted relative to the guide roll 122 for engaging the end of the electrode 2%, then by moving the electrode 28 along the roller track M2, the end of the electrode enters the lower portion Hi and is forced between the pressure roll We and the drive roll 22. At the same time the spring biased contact members 292 and 2% are brought into engagement with opposed sides of the electrode 28 to provide a good sliding electrical contact therewith as the electrode 28 passes there between. In practice the electrode is also forced inward of the furnace structure so that the end thereof enters the passageway 238 of the insulating water jacket it to a position where the electrode engages the spaced rolls 2%, 248, 25s and 252 thereof.

With the electrode positioned in the furnace structure as just described, the cover 9 is secured in position on the end of the housing i2 and the furnace structure containing the electrode is raised from the horizontal position illustrated in Fig. 2 to the vertical position illustrated in Fig. 1 in which the insulating water jacket 16 seats on a gasket 264 of heat resistant dielectric metal 1 which extend through the" it can enter the As the ends of the to prevent breakage disposed over the rim 20 of the crucible 22. In such position the pedestal 62 and the pivot supports 66 and 68. for the furnace structure carry substantially all of the weight of the furnace structureto thereby prevent damage to the crucible 22. In raisingthe furnace structure ill to the vertical position, it is noted that the guide members lid, lit and lid cooperate in housing IE to prevent excessive sideways movement of the electrode 28 in the housing if as its position is changed from a horizontal to the vertical position. The frictional grip of the drive roll I22 and the pressure roll i2!) is sufficient to main tain the electrode 28 in the vertical posi the motor I 92 is operated to apply a pos. ing force to the roll I22, it being undo the friction of the Worm gear drive will movement of the roll 122 until a po.' is applied to the drive.

In this position the water jacket is is connected to a suitable source of supply of water as is also the water jacket 2%. 236 of the water jacket 56 is secured in o. ition with respect to the rims 2i] and 35 of the crucible 22 and water jacket 24, respectively, as by means of insulated bolts 265- which extend herethrough and through the gaskets between the respective rim members. The gas inlet iilfl carried by the cover 94 is then connected to a source (not shown) of gas such as argon or helium which is non-contaminating with respect to titanium and the furnace structure is flushed therewith so as to remove any gaseous impurities that might be present in the furnace structure, it being noted that the gas also flows downwardly into the crucible 22 escaping from the furnace structure through the gas exhaust conduit When the furnace structure and crucible are thus flushed and the terminals 228 and 40 are connected to a suitable source of direct current power supply, the motor I92 is operated so as to frictionally drive the electrode 28 downwardly into the crucible to a position where an are 268 is struck between the end of the electrode 28 and the initial supply 33 of titanium metal carried in the crucible 22, The rate of feed of the electrode 28 into the crucible 22 is controlled so as to effect a substantially constant melting thereof. This control can be any of the well-known electrical controls responding to variations in either the are current or are voltage, such controls being so Weil-known that they need not be described herein. The flow of the non-contaminating gas is continued throughout the melting cycle so as to insure obtaining a good sound ingot from the consumable electrode.

After the electrode is melted so that only the butt end thereof is held between the pressure roll I20 and the drive roll M2, the arcing current is interrupted, the bolts 2% are removed and the furnace structure It is again tilted about its pivot shaft i to the horizontal position illus trated in Fig. 2. With the furnace structure thus removed from the crucible 22, the crucible 22 containing the ingot of titanium metal can be readily removed position with respect to the water jacket 24 and the ingot formed in the crucible 22 can thereafter be removed from the crucible. The butt end of the electrode 23 is then removed from its position with respect to the drive roll i722 and pressure roll I20 and 94 is re- 10 The furnace structure of this invention is handling large electrodes ing breakage during the loading of the furnace structure. The furnace structure is also capable of so guiding the electrode, it being found that the guide means and roller track of the housing l2 cooperate with the pressure roll i2i and drive roll I22 as well as with the rollers 246 through 252 of the insulating water jacket IE to maintain the electrode in a substantially central position when the furnace structure is in a vertical position so as to prevent arcing between the sides of the electrode and the side walls of the crucible Further, by making the furnace structure tilta-ble as described it becomes quite apparent that the loading of the furnace is clearly simplified and makes a very emcient loading operation possible.

The furnace structure of this invention is formed of substantially standard components and can be readily reproduced by any one skilled in the art. It has made possible the commercial production of ingots of titanium base metal substantially larger than have ever been commercially produced heretofore.

I claim:

1. In a furnace structure for the feeding and melting of a consumable electrode in a water cooled crucible, the combination of, a tiltable housing disposed for movement to and from an operative vertical position in alignment with the crucible, the housing being disposed to receive the electrode when tilted from said vertical position, means contained within the housing for supporting and gu "ing the electrode as the electrode is received the housing, driving means within the housing disposed to engage the electrode as the electrode is receive-cl therein, the driving means being disposed to support the electrode when the housing is in said vertical position, means for operating the driving means to control movement of the electrode into crucible when the housing is in said vertical position, the guiding means also cooperating with the driving means when the housing is in said vertical position to maintain the electro e a substantially vertical position as the driving means is operated to move the electrode into the cruciand electric... embers spas-ed to l contact 1" be biased into contact enge, ment with the electrode to facilitate the making of eleoical connection therewith as the dnving is operated to move the electrode into the crucible.

2. In a furnace structure for the feeding and melting of a consumable electrode in a water cooled crucible, the combination of, housing disposed to be seated in a vertically extending and aligned operative relation with the crucible, a removable cover plate secured to the upper end of the vertically extending housing, a pivot means for the housing disposed to facilitate tilting movement of the housing from said vertical position to horizontal position to receive the electrode when the cover plate is removed, roller means disposed within the housing along one side thereof to receive and support the weight and facilitate movement of the electrode as the electrode is positioned Within the housing, guide means disposed in spaced relation to one another within the housing and about the sides thereof to cooperate v ith the roller means in guiding the electrode into position Within the housing, driving means disposed adjacent the end of the roller the housing disposed to receive and engage the electrode when the electrode is positioned within the housing, the driving means being disposed to support the electrode when the housing is in said vertical position, means for operating the driving means to control movement of the electrode into the crucible when the housing is in said vertical position, the guide and roller means also cooperating with the driving means when the housing is in said vertical position to maintain the electrode in a substantially vertical position as the driving means is operated to move the electrode into the crucible, and electrical contact members disposed to be biased into contact engagement with the electrode to facilitate the making of an electrical connection therewith as the driving means is operated to move the electrode into the crucible.

3. In a furnace structure for the feeding and melting of a consumable electrode in a water cooled crucible, the combination of, a housing disposed to be seated in a vertically extending and aligned operative relation with the crucible, a removable cover plate secured to the upper end of the vertically extending housing, a water jacket carried by the lower end of the vertical housing to seat on the crucible when the housing is in aligned operative relation therewith, a pivot means for the housing disposed to facilitate tilting movement of the housing and water jacket carried thereby from said vertical position to a horizontal position to receive the electrode when the cover plate is removed, means contained within the housing for supporting and guiding the electrode as the electrode is positioned within the housing, driving means within the housing disposed to receive and engage the electrode when the electrode is positioned therein, the driving means being disposed to support the electrode when the housing is in said vertical position, means for operating the driving means to control the feeding of the electrode into the crucible when the housing is in said vertical position, roller means carried by the water jacket for engaging the sides of the electrode as it moves into the crucible, the guide means of the housing and the roller means of the water jacket cooperating in conjunction with the driving means to maintain the electrode in a substantially vertical position as the driving means is operated to feed the electrode into the crucible, and electrical contact members disposed in contact engagement with the electrode to facilitate making an electrical connection therewith as the driving means is operated to move the electrode into the crucible.

4. In a furnace structure for the feeding and melting of a consumable electrode in a water cooled crucible, the combination of, a housing disposed to be seated in a vertically extending and aligned operative relation with the crucible, a cover plate secured to the upper end of the vertically extending housing, pivot means for the housing disposed to facilitate tilting movement of the housing from said vertical position to a horizontal position, the cover plate being removable for admitting the electrode to the housing through said upper end when the housing is in said horizontal position, a plurality of roller members disposed in spaced relation within the housing along one side thereof to provide a carrier track for receiving and supporting the weight and facilitating movement of the electrode as the electrode is admitted to and positioned in the housing in said horizontal position, guide means within means disposed in spaced relation to one another within the housing about the sides thereof to cooperate with the carrier track in guiding the electrode into position within the housing, driving means disposed in the lower end of the vertically extending housing adjacent the end of the carrier track for receiving and engaging the electrode when the electrode is positioned within the housing in said horizontal position, the driving means being disposed to support the electrode when the housing is in said vertical position, means for operating the driving means to control movement of the electrode into the crucible when the housing is in said vertical position, the guide means and carrier track cooperating with the driving means when the hous ing is in said vertical position to maintain the electrode in a substantially vertical position as the driving means is operated to move the electrode into the crucible, and electrical contact members disposed in sliding contact engagement with the electrode to facilitate the making of an electrical connection therewith as the driving means is operated to move the electrode into the crucible.

5. In a furnace structure for the feeding and melting of a consumable electrode in a water cooled crucible, the combination of, a housing disposed to be seated in a vertically extending and aligned operative relation with the crucible, a cover plate secured to the upper end of the vertically extending housing, pivot means for the housing disposed to facilitate tilting movementof the housing from said vertical position to a horizontal position, the cover plate bein removable for admitting the electrode to the housing through said upper end when the housing is in said horizontal position, a plurality of roller members disposed in spaced relation within the housing along one side thereof to provide a carrier track for receiving and supporting the weight and facilitating movement of the electrode as the electrode is admitted to and positioned in the housing in said horizontal position. guide means disposed in spaced relation to one another within the housing about the sides thereof to cooperate with the carrier track in guiding the electrode into position within the housing, driving means disposed in the lower end of the vertically extending housing adjacent the carrier track, the driving means comprising a pair of spaced roller members for receiving and frictionally engaging the electrode when the electrode is positioned within the housing in said horizontal position, means for adjusting the spaced position of the roller drive members to insure a frictional engagement thereof with the electrode to support the electrode when the housing is in said vertical position, means for operating the driving means to control movement of the electrode into the crucible when the housing is in said vertical position, and electrical contact members disposed in sliding contact engagement with the electrode to facilitate the making of an electrical connection therewith as the driving means is operated to move the electrode into the crucible.

6. In a furnace structure for the feeding and melting of a consumable electrode in a water cooled crucible, the combination of, a housing disposed to be seated in a vertically extending and aligned operative relation with the crucible. a cover plate secured to the upper end of the vertically extending housing, pivot means for the housing disposed to facilitate tilting movement plate being removable for admitting the electrode to the housing through said upper end when the housing is in said horizontal position, roller means extending along the inner wall of the housing disposed to means being disposed to support the electrode when the housing means for operating the driving means to control movement of the electrode into the crucible when the housing is in said vertical position, the guide means and roller References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,353,617 Castle Nov. 9, 1920 2,121,578 Winter et a1. June 21, 1938 1529,31 Thys Nov. 7, 1950 2.640360 Herres June 2, 1953 

